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Thursday, 20 December 2012

Wow it's it's been a fantastic two weeks! I've loved all the author interviews and give-aways here and on Book Whispers so I hope that you have too! It is always excellent to be able to announce the winners of the great books & ebooks! Are you listed here? I'll be in touch soon!Make sure you check out the winners of the other contests over at Book Whispers.Winner of an ecopy of Winter Eve by Lia davis is:KaylaWinner of a copy of one of A.C.Warneke's ebooks is:April at My Paranormal Book ReiewWinner of a paperback from Suzanne McLeod is:Donna SimmondsWinner of a copy of one of Celine Chatillon's ebooks is:CarolWinner of an ecopy of Born of Blood and Retribution by Liz Strange is:Shera at Book WhispersI will in in touch with all of you soon! Hope you enjoy the books :-)

Tuesday, 18 December 2012

Welcome to another fantastic instalment of my author interviews for the Winter Solstice event. I would like to welcome Liz Strange. We've got an interview with Liz, then I'll share some information about her books and finally we have a giveaway for you (end of the post). An interview with Liz Strange!Please introduce yourself and your books.I am a multi/cross genre fiction author, writing mainly in fantasy, horror and mystery. My two series are the DarkKkiss and David Lloyd Investigations.

Why did you decide to become a writer?I decided to try to the published writer about four years ago, but I have been writing my whole life.

Where do you get your inspiration from?

I love mythology, history, unsolved mysteries and unrequited love stories. And a dash of real and that usually begins the premise for my books.

Can you talk us through the process you go through when you write a book.Depending on the type of book, I my do research, prepare an outline or dive right in.

If you could have dinner with one of your characters who would it be and why?Oh so hard. I’ll say Giovanni from The Dark kiss series. He’s been around for so long, I’d love to pick his brain and hear about events/time periods from someone who’s seen it with his own eyes.

If you were not a writer what would you be?

If I had my choice I think I’d been an archaeologist or a professional student. I love learning!

What is the best thing about being a writer?Being able to live in my imagination.

And the worst?Long hours, and little pay.

Did you have a favourite author as a child?

I liked the Three Investigators series, but by the time I was ten or eleven I was reading Stephen King and Dean Koontz.

What do you do in your free time?

LOL- free time! Going to the gym is about the only thing I make time for. It helps keep me sane.

You can visit one place in the world right now, where and why?Greece. I’ve always wanted to go there. So much history!!

Can you give us an odd fact about yourself?

I love musicals and any movies about dancing.

A few quick fire questions:

Coffee or Tea?Coffee

Summer or winter?Winter

Physical book or ebook?Physical

Wild night out or cosy night in?Both. Depends on the occasion.Thank you Liz, excellent interview which gives us a real insight into your authors world! I really enjoyed your answers.About Liz Strange

Liz was born and raised in Kingston, Ontario where she still resides with her family and a menagerie of pets. When not working, writing or spending time with her family she enjoys reading, watching scary movies, spicy food and hitting the gym.

Liz is a self-confessed sci-fi nerd, loving Star Trek, X-Files, and Torchwood. She also loves anything to do with mythology, history and anthropology, and has a long-standing fascination with ancient Greece and Easter Island.

She has been an avid reader from childhood, and has always been attracted to stories that deal with the darker side of human nature, mysteries, crime, and things that go bump in the night. Her true (and undying) love for vampires was born when she got her hands on a copy of Stephen King's 'Salem's Lot.

Liz loves to hear from her readers and will answer any questions sent her way.

Born of Blood and Retribution

The world’s first vampire has come calling – and she isn’t happy.

After the brutal showdown with the Demarais and the reunion with Giovanni, Rachel is looking for nothing more than some peace and quiet. Harshika, the world’s first vampire, has other ideas. She's not pleased with the immortal race as a whole, finding them weak and too “human”. When called before her, the immortals are given an ultimatum: Submit to Harshika as her subjects or die.Now Rachel and her old friends must join with new allies to discover Harshika’s weakness…hopefully in time to gain freedom for them all.

Sunday, 16 December 2012

Welcome to another fantastic instalment of my author interviews for the Winter Solstice event. I would like to welcome Celine Chatillon. We've got an interview with Celine, then I'll share some information about her books and finally we have a giveaway for you (end of the post). An interview with Celine Chatillon!Please introduce yourself and your books.Hi, my name is Celine Chatillon. I've been writing romantic fiction for the last decade and a half. I have a variety of erotic-romances published by eXtasy Books, Liquid Silver Books, and Mojocastle Press. I enjoy writing about vampires, psychics and other fantasy/paranormal characters as well as contemporary ones. My sweeter romances are written under my Cynthianna pen name. You can read excerpts and synopses of all my titles at my web site http://www.celinechatillon.com andhttp://www.cynthianna.com

Why did you decide to become a writer?I think the decision was always out of my hands. I've just always enjoyed reading and writing. It's like breathing to me.

Where do you get your inspiration from?

Inspiration comes from anything and everywhere. I'm never quite sure where I come up with an idea, but I do know that looking at things online and in movies/TV I often get a picture in my mind of a character or situation... Once I have the main character in my head, the plot springs from that character's actions and behaviors.

Can you talk us through the process you go through when you write a book.With the idea of the main character, the location, and the basic plot in my head, I usually sit down and start writing the opening scene(s). You can call me a "pantser" writer, as I don't tend to write long and drawn-out outlines or charts like "plotter" writers often do. I just close my eyes and picture the opening scene and go from there. It's not always a straightforward process (you do get bogged down in the middle occasionally), but I always try to keep the momentum going by writing what I "see" in my mind as the next scene. If I have problems with a particular scene, I might write a note on the page that says, "Come back and develop this point further", but I'll continue on writing the scene that comes after it and then the next and so forth.

If you could have dinner with one of your characters who would it be and why?I'd like to have dinner with them all! I guess if I had to choose one, I'd enjoy having dinner with Brandi from BRANDI WHYNE AND HER INCREDIBLY EROTIC ADVENTURES. (http://brandi-whyne.blogspot.com) Brandi has lived a very colorful life as a space pirate and she never has trouble finding new lovers... I want to get some expert advice from her so I can write better erotic fiction! ;)

If you were not a writer what would you be?

Good question! I've had a variety of day jobs, but none of them ever "took" that well. Possibly a teacher or professor of some kind.

What is the best thing about being a writer?Being creative and creating "worlds" where you are in total control of every person and every situation. It is sort of the ultimate ego trip when you think about it. ;)

And the worst?No regular pay, no benefits really, no way to make a living without a "day job" unless you make it to the top 1% with multiple best-sellers.

Did you have a favourite author as a child?

Many! It's hard to think of how many authors I enjoyed reading. :)

What do you do in your free time?

Free time? What's that? ;) I do like to walk and I enjoy singing, reading, painting arts-and-crafts, and watching movies on DVD.

You can visit one place in the world right now, where and why?Hmm, it's fairly cold outside today, so I'm really wanting to lie on a sunny, tropical beach somewhere in the Caribbean and have several handsome cabana boys fan me and offer me fruit drinks and other sweet treats. Ooo--a nice, relaxing massage would be perfect! The why? Why not? :)

Can you give us an odd fact about yourself?

I'm an odd person, so any facts about me will be odd! An unusual fact is that I am part Blackfoot-Cree, but I have blue eyes and blond hair. Mom's family is Scots-Irish, so my coloring came from her and my high cheekbones came from Dad. :)

Anything you would like to add?I want to wish everyone a very happy holiday season! Enjoy yourselves and don't forget to support your favorite authors by purchasing their books and leaving reviews online to share your thoughts with other readers. Thank you.

A few quick fire questions:

Coffee or Tea?Tea--preferably herbal

Summer or winter?Summer--but not too, too hot!

Physical book or ebook?Either. It's the contents that count, not the packaging.

Wild night out or cosy night in?Cosy night in with a good book or a good DVD. I like cuddling up with my handsome hubby! ;)Thank you Celine, excellent interview which gives us a real insight into your authors world! About Celine Chatillon

Celine Chatillon is the alter ego of multi-published contemporary romance novelist, Cynthianna. Celine finds writing erotica a very pleasant departure from her day job as a small press manuscript reader. She grew up watching Dark Shadows and Star Trek and reading Dracula and classic science fiction tales--along with several thousand Harlequin romance novels. She has released numerous erotic romance tales with eXtasy Books, including the humorous sci-fi romp Brandi Whyne and Her Incredibly Erotic Adventures. Her "Paranormal Lovers of St. Louis" novel series is published with Liquid Silver Books. Mojocastle Press is home to her science fiction/erotica collection Heavenly Bodies. (Click on the Books/Excerpts link above for a complete listing.)

Many more stories of erotic fun and wonder are in the works or under contract at this time. Be patient, please.

Celine has a yahoogroup announcement newsletter, Celine's Dreams, aFacebook author page and a blog "Celine's Dreams". She blogs occasionally with other erotic-romance authors. She may have other blogs and/or web sites elsewhere, but she's mislaid them along with the batteries for her vibrator.

Friday, 14 December 2012

Welcome to another fantastic instalment of my author interviews for the Winter Solstice event. I would like to welcome Suzanne McLeod. We've got an interview with Suzanne, then I'll share some information about her books and finally we have a giveaway for you (end of the post). Suzanne is a UK author & I'm a UK blogger so it's a great meeting :-)An interview with Suzanne McLeod!Please introduce yourself and your books.Hello, I’m Suzanne
McLeod, and thanks to Jenny for having me here for her Winter Solstice event. I
write the Spellcrackers.com urban fantasy series about Genevieve Taylor. Genny
is a sidhe fae and she works as a magical trouble-shooter in present day
London; but it’s an alternative London with witches in Covent Garden, goblin
workers on the Underground, trolls in the police force, celebrity vampires in
Leicester Square, and other fae such as naiads, dryads and satyrs. Book four –
The Shifting Price of Prey – is the latest book out in the series (UK only so
far, but it’s available from the Book Depository with free worldwide delivery
*inserts obligatory self-promo* :-D)

Why did you decide to become a writer?When I realised my
five to eight book-a-week habit was getting more and more difficult to sustain
- I just wasn't finding enough of what I loved to read in the
bookstores anymore (this was back in 2003; sadly bookstores seem like
they’re becoming an endangered species just now L ), and my favourite authors where taking too long to write their next
books ;).

Where do you get your inspiration from?

I always knew I wanted to
write a series with a character who got involved solving mysteries and
murder. From there it was finding my
main character, Genny, and working out her back story and the world in which
she lived; and how both had shaped her. Then I wanted her to have a job that
would bring specific problems to her, problems that it would be logical she
would deal with. But I didn’t want her to be police [too many rules and
regulations to take into consideration] or a PI, hence Spellcrackers.com where
her job is to clear up any nasty or dangerous spells. As for more everyday
inspiration that comes from anywhere and everywhere: walking the Hound,
documentaries, history, books, overheard conversations, visiting places,
meeting new people, TV, books, and of course, the internet. :-D

Can you talk us through the process you go through when you write a book.I'm a plotster
(which is a combo of outlining a plot and writing by the seat of my pants). I
start with the ‘baddie’, the character who is behind the book’s problem
(usually a murdered person) that Genny, my main character is going to end up
dealing with. I work out what the ‘baddie’ wants and why, and what he’s done/is
prepared to do to get it. Then I work out how Genny is going to come up against
the ‘baddie’ so she can thwart his nefarious plans, and how everything is going
to go down the big (hopefully exciting) climax of the book.

After that I work
out where’s the most appropriate and interesting place to start chapter one,
and then outline where I go from there in a list of one-line (or sometimes
one-page if my imagination gets carried away) chapter summaries until I get to
The End. Then I start writing, which is where the panster bit comes in, and things/situations/characters
which I never imagined appear. At which point I have to decide if they fit with
the overall story, and if they do, how. Then it’s write and repeat until I get
to The End, which sounds way simpler and less full of self-doubt than it
actually is. :-)

If you could have dinner with one of your characters who would it be and why?Hmm, that’s a hard one. Ricou
(he’s a naiad – one of the water fae) would be a great choice as he’s into one
of my favourite foods: sushi (a tad cannibalistic, I know, but hey, some fish
are like that). But then dinner with Finn and the rest of the satyrs would be a
wild time. (Everyone knows what they say about those Bacchanalian evenings they
have. *wink*) I’d love to have some alone time with Tavish – not only is he a
good couple of millennia old so he’s got lots of tales to tell, he’s also got
quite a few personal secrets that I’d like to tease out of him – only trouble
is he’s a soul-tasting kelpie so I’d have to make sure dinner was nowhere near
water. And, of course, there’s Malik, but while he would be perfect company,
I’m not sure I’d be comfortable eating when my dinner companion isn’t able to
satisfy his own hunger, especially when he’s a vampire and I’m the evil creator
of all his problems. *g*

If you were not a writer what would you be?

I’ve come to writing
after having a lot of other jobs so I’ve already tried a lot of things that I thought
I might like to do (and enjoyed nearly all of them), and really, it doesn’t get
any better than writing. Though, I would love to learn to play the saxophone;
sadly I’m tone deaf.

What is the best thing about being a writer?Doing something
that I love and actually getting paid for it is fab, obviously, but having
people tell me they love my books and my characters, has to be the absolute
best.

And the worst?Deadlines is one.
No matter how distant they are, and how well you plan, they always jump out and
surprise you like a manic, cackling Jack-in-the-box. But I think the main one
is worrying that, no matter how hard I work at it, the story isn’t going to be
good enough, and that I’m not going to do my characters justice, and that I’ll
disappointthose readers who love my
books. I try hard to make sure that doesn’t happen.

Did you have a favourite author as a child?

As I was a total
bookworm I had lots, too many to mention really but here are some: CS Lewis, Elinor Brent-Dyer (The Chalet School books), Lucy Maud Montgomery, Noel
Streatfeild (Ballet Shoes), John Wyndham,Tove Jansson (The Moomin books), Enid Blyton,Elyne Mitchell (The Silver Brumbry), Louisa May Alcott, Susan Cooper
(The Dark is Rising), and Alan Garner.

You can visit one place in the world right now, where and why?Somewhere hot and sunny, with a
heated pool, a buffet restaurant, tea and time-turners on tap, and a
slave-driving muse. That manic Jack-in-the-box deadline is cackling in my ear.

Coffee or Tea?Tea. I love the scent
and taste of coffee but caffeine hates me.

Summer or winter?Summer. (Though not too hot. Picky,
I know.) It’s great to have the windows open and lots of fresh air in the
house.

Physical book or ebook? Ebook (90%. My
absolute favourites still have to be in print). I love having hundreds of books
for the space of a paperback, the instant reading, and the ability to change
the font size (my eyes get tired now I’m *cough* years old). It all makes me
glad I read in the future. :-D

Wild night out or cosy night in?Cosy night in. With a book, chocs,
maybe some pickles, and a margarita, of course!Thank you Suzanne, excellent interview which gives us a real insight into your authors world! It's great to meet a British Urban Fantasy author, I love the London settings of the Spellcrackers.com books!About Suzanne McLeod

Suzanne has been a cocktail waitress, dance group
roadie, and retail manager before becoming a writer. She was born in London (her favourite city and the
home of Spellcrackers.com) and now lives on the (sometimes) sunny South Coast
of England, about a mile away from the sea, with her husband Mr Mc, and Bella
the Hound.

Sometimes a bit of magical help might cost more than you
bargained for . . .

London
is hosting the Carnival Fantastique, and Genny's job has never been busier or
more fulfilling. Only not everyone is so happy. Genny believed she’d cracked
the fae’s infertility curse . . . but the fae are still barren. It’s a
devastating plight to which the mysterious Emperor may have the solution – if
Genny can find him.

She
needs help.

She
turns to the vampire Malik al-Khan, only to find he’s wrestling with his own
demons and, when the police request Genny’s assistance with a magical kidnap,
her own problems multiply too. Is it all unconnected, or can the Emperor help
her solve more than the fae’s infertility? Soon Genny is hard on his trail, so
it seems she’ll have a chance to ask . . . but will the answer cost more than
she’s willing to pay?

Giveaway

Win a copy of one of Suzanne's books (anywhere the Book Depository ships to!) - Winners choice which book

Monday, 10 December 2012

Welcome the the second of my author interviews for the Winter Solstice event. I would like to welcome A.C. Warneke. We've got an interview with A.C., then I'll share some information about her books and finally we have a giveaway for you (end of the post).An interview with A.C.Warneke!Please introduce yourself and your books.Hello! (This part is always so awkward!) I am A.C. Warneke, author of paranormal romance and urban fantasy, from the light and fluffy to the much darker and slightly macabre, all with a healthy dose of heat; they’re not for the faint of heart. The path of self-publishing began in January of 2012 and it has been a wonderful journey so far, filled with new opportunities and incredible people.

Five books are currently published: Darkness Comes, Blight, Stone Lover, Siren Song, and Stone Romance and many more that are in various stages, including Stone Destiny, After Blight, the continuation of Darkness Comes.

Darkness Comes is the story of Malorie Sinclair, a young woman who was raised with a non-traditional upbringing by a father who has been keeping secrets from her. It has been a few years since the vampires she had hunted all of her life have promised to behave and she finally has the chance to live a normal life with her young son. But a fateful trip to the mall on Christmas Eve changes all of that when she is caught up in a surprise Open Feed, losing herself in the embrace of a vampire.

Rebecca “Beck” Lewis is an elite warrior, battling the hordes of undead instead of herself in Blight. She is slipping into madness and she welcomes the darkness if it means an end to the pain of living. After Blight picks up where Blight left off and will be available in 2013.

Unlike Darkness Comes and Blight, Siren Song is a romantic romp with a splash of the paranormal. After Lexi Darling falls madly in lust with a stranger, she discovers that she is a Siren. Even more peculiar, she discovers that the stranger is her new boss Duncan Tremain. Despite an irresistible attraction, Duncan tries to keep his distance from the vivacious Lexi for two reasons: he’s her boss and, well, he’s a wolf. Lexi is just as determined to claim Duncan as her own. Poor Duncan doesn’t stand a chance.

Stone Lover and Stone Romance are the first and second books of the Stone Passions trilogy, which features gargoyles and the women who love them. Stone Lover is about Vaughn and Melanie, whose attraction is so powerful they act on their primal desire shortly after they meet. Melanie is impossibly sweet and a little naïve and Vaughn will do everything in his power to keep her safe, including giving up his nights to protect her. Stone Romance follows Vaughn’s brother Rhys and Melanie’s sister Jenna on their journey that started in Stone Lover. Life has been much harder for Jenna and Rhys is exactly who she needs to bring color back into her life. Stone Romance also delves deeper into the gargoyle mythology.

Stone Destiny is Armand’s story and will be out in the early part of 2013.

Why did you decide to become a writer?

Sadly, it wasn’t a choice. :) When the urge to write hits I have to find something and write down what is playing in my head. At that point I shut out the rest of the world until what needs to be written is written. The muses have kept me awake at night long after the lights have been turned off so I write in the dark with a pen that I hope works on a piece of paper that I hope is blank. It’s painful trying to figure out what was written but if I can make out a word or two the memory generally returns.

Where do you get your inspiration from?

Sometimes an image or a character will pop into my head and I want to know what happened to get to that particular scene and what’s going to happen next and I want to know more about the characters involved. Sometimes dreams are involved but generally my dreams are far too weird and convoluted to translate properly into a story. A conversation with a friend, the melody of a song, a cool breeze on a hot day; inspiration is everywhere

Can you talk us through the process you go through when you write a book.

The first stage is freaking out and wondering if I still have that unknown thing that will allow me to write. This stage can last anywhere between a few days to years – and when it hits the years it is just awful and even though I am still scribbling out scenes and story ideas I am not writing stories. But writing begets writing and once I start I’m good to go; it is just really hard to start some times.

Once that initial stage of panic and doubt has passed and I move onto the actual writing, I have found that I don’t have a specific process because each book I have written has travelled different paths. What works for one definitely does not work for another, no matter how much I wish it would. I have sat down and written a story from beginning to end in a linear process, saving it as one large file; I have written pieces and parts out of order, saving each individual chapter (which is always interesting trying to figure out what has been written and in which order everything goes): I have worked from detailed notes; I have gone with a vague idea of where a story was heading and discovering the story as it unfolded.

When I write I spend an inordinate amount of time playing solitaire and minesweeper, letting my brain figure out the kinks in a story while my hands and eyes engage in mindless activity. It seems like nothing has been written but suddenly there are two or three thousand words on the page. I have tried not playing the games and discovered that I couldn’t write at all.

If you could have dinner with one of your characters who would it be and why?

This is a really tough question because I would love to meet ALL of my characters! I think the most fun would be Lexi (Siren Song) or Rhys (Stone Romance) but the most interesting would be Beck (Blight), though she would be the most difficult to have a conversation with since she would probably spend the entire meal glaring at me and tapping her foot, anxious to get the heck out of there. I would really just love to spend the day with Lexi, living as boldly as she does, jumping whole-heartedly into adventures, not letting fear hold her back. She goes after what she wants and pushes herself past the limits that are set in place but remains true to herself. And then there is Armand (Stone Destiny) and Wilson (Blight)…. Swoon.

If you were not a writer what would you be?

I would be a companion to the Doctor, travelling through space and time and averting catastrophes at the last possible moment.

What is the best thing about being a writer?

I love the control I have as a writer – ultimately I get to determine the fates of my characters (insert evil laugh.) But the best part is connecting with readers from around the world through the various websites. I think it is so freaking awesome that someone in Australia or Germany or the UK reads the books and I get to meet them on-line. It makes the world that much smaller and accessible.

And the worst?

The worst is the anxiety of not knowing if I will be able to write and the dread of the next book (currently Armand’s) not living up to anyone’s expectations. Those authors that can write long series and still keep things fresh are an inspiration.

The other part that is difficult is writing a blurb that is engaging and peaks a reader’s interest without giving too much away in two hundred words or less.

Did you have a favourite author as a child?

Shel Silverstein. I think his silly poems and quirky drawings were an impetus to learning to read – I wanted to read the poems even when no one else was around to read then to me. They sure as heck beat Dick and Jane.

What do you do in your free time?

I LOVE listening to music and if music isn’t playing somewhere in the house then I will sit down and play the piano or listen to my son as he strums out a few songs on the guitar.

I enjoy watching television series on DVD – no commercials and instant gratification when an episode ends on a cliff hanger. And if I have the next season, no fretting about how Sam or Dean or Buffy will come back from the dead this time. While watching the television I like to crochet because it is something to keep my hands occupied.

I also surf the web, always searching for something that is just out of reach. I think it would help if I knew what it was I was looking for but I keep searching. I search elsewhere, too, pondering life and death and ice cream. :)

You can visit one place in the world right now, where and why?

I would be back in Minnesota spending the holidays with family. :) At any other time I would love to see the whole world, starting with London.Can you give us an odd fact about yourself?The day after high school graduation I flew down to the Virgin Islands for a three week trip and I ended up staying for ten months, calling home from Virgin Gorda to let my parents know that the plane that had just taken off from St. Thomas didn’t have me on it. My poor, poor parents – though I did warn them when I was getting on the plane that I might not be back for a year.

Anything you would like to add?

An enormous thank you for welcoming me here today. <3 Thank you! Also, if anyone is interested in learning more, they can visit my little-bit-of-everything-blog acwarneke.com.

A few quick fire questions:

Coffee or Tea? Tea.

Summer or winter? Summer.

Physical book or ebook?Both. :) I can fit a lot more books on the kindle and they take up a LOT less space but I LOVE the feel of a physical book – and taking a sneak peek at what’s coming up.

Wild night out or cosy night in?Cozy night in.Thank you A.C., excellent interview which gives us a real insight into your authors world! I love how much you put into the answers! I'm a detail girl :-)More about A.C. ~ here's her Bio!

In the real world my life is probably considered somewhat dull but it is full of love with three incredible kids and a wonderful husband. On the other hand, the world inside my head is chaotic and sometimes scary but it is a very interesting place to be at any given moment. I tend to jot down my ideas on whatever is handy, from scraps of paper to the back of receipts. I have notebooks filled with scenes and characters and story ideas – they won’t let me go to sleep unless I write them down. It becomes a problem when it is the middle of the night and I am exhausted and I have to be up early so I always keep paper and a writing utensil on the nightstand next to my bed. Unfortunately, writing in the dark that is written while half asleep is very difficult to translate in the morning but as long as there is a word or two that I can make out, I can get the general idea of what I was trying to say.

Thanks to recent technological advances, I have been self-publishing my paranormal romances and urban fantasies since February of 2012. I have also been trying to navigate the world of marketing and that has been interesting.

Every time I think I have it figured out, I learn something new that changes everything and I have to re-evaluate what I have done and see if I need to make any major changes or if I can use what I already have or if I have to scrap the whole thing. Whether writing, publishing, marketing or just living, that is pretty much how it goes and the learning just never seems to end. Thank God!!

I currently have five books available: Darkness Comes (Feb. 2012), Blight (Mar. 2012), Stone Lover (Mar. 2012), Siren Song (May 2012) and Stone Romance (Sept. 2012) All are available on the Amazon kindle and in paperback form; Darkness Comes, Blight, Stone Lover and Siren Song are also available on Smashwords and their various channels. Soon Stone Romance will be there. Just be warned: my books tend to be steamy – the lights are definitely left on – and I am a sucker for happy endings.

Saturday, 8 December 2012

Welcome the the first of the author interviews for the Winter Solstice event. I would like to welcome Lia Davis! We've got an interview with Lia, then I'll share some information about her books and finally we have a giveaway for you (end of the post).An interview with Lia Davis!
Please introduce yourself
and your books.Hi! I’m Lia Davis, mother, wife, accountant, and author. I love
nature, coffee and when I’m not writing, I’m hanging with my wonderful husband.

I’m currently working on two series. The Divinities has two book
released—Forgotten Visions and Death’s Storm. Ashwood Falls is a new shifter
series with the prequel, Winter Eve, releasing around Dec 18.

I’ve always loved creative writing and making up stories since I
was elementary school. It wasn’t until I started reading paranormal romance,
that I decided to dive in and start writing to be published.

Where do you get your
inspiration from?

Inspiration kind of finds me. LOL. It pops in at the weirdest
times and quite frequent. I carry a note pad where ever I go.

Can you talk us through
the process you go through when you write a book.

The first thing I do is list the GMC (goal, motivations, and
conflicts) for the hero and heroine to get a clear direction on what they want.
Then I create a plot point list from beginning to end. I take that list and
group the plot points into chapters and add a little more detail. Then I start
writing.

If you could have dinner
with one of your characters who would it be and why?

Right now, it would be Zach, the hero of the third book in the
Divinities series. I’m working on the chapter outline of his book and would
like a little more insight into this secret he’s hiding.

If you were not a writer
what would you be?

An accountant. I have a BSB in accounting, so I would continue to
utilize my degree.

What is the best thing
about being a writer?

Creating different worlds to escape to. And meeting all the
wonderful readers around the world.

And the worst?

Hmm. If I had to pick something it would be promotion. I’m not
very good at ‘selling’ things, but I’m learning.

Did you have a favourite
author as a child?

I didn’t have one as a child. I really didn’t start enjoying
reading until I started reading romance at the age of sixteen. Even then it was
about the story instead of the author.

What do you do in your
free time?

Spend time with my hubby, or read. Sometimes both.

You can visit one place in
the world right now, where and why?

I’ve never been out of the United States, so I would love to
travel Europe some day.

Anything you would like to
add?

Thank you so much for having me.

A few quick fire questions:

Coffee or Tea? Coffee

Summer or winter? Summer.

Physical book or ebook?
Both. Although I love my kindle, I also like the physical book too

Wild night out or cosy
night in? Night in. I’m getting too old for wild nights, unless they are
wild nights in…JThank you Lia, excellent interview which gives us a real insight into your authors world! I used to be an Accountant too but now I'm specialising in book marketing so we have a real common thread then departure :-)More about Lia ~ here's her Bio!

Lia Davis is a mother to two
young adults and two very special kitties, a wife to her soul mate, a
paranormal romance author, graphic designer, and co-owner to Fated Desires
Publishing, LLC. She and her family live in Northeast Florida battling
hurricanes and very humid summers. But it’s her home and she loves it!

An accounting major, Lia has
always been a dreamer with a very activity imagination. The wheels in her head
never stop. She ventured into the world of writing and publishing in 2008 and
loves it more than she imagined. Writing and designing are stress relievers that
allow her to go off in her corner of the house and enter into another world
that she created, leaving real life where it belongs.

Her favorite things are spending
time with family, traveling, reading, writing, chocolate, coffee, nature and
hanging out with her kitties.

Technical
genius and demi-goddess--aka Divinity--Khloe Bradenton relies on no one for
help, and she definitely doesn’t need comfort from anyone other than her twin.
After her parents died by the demons’ hands over two years ago, she has
graciously stepped up to her place in the war between demons and witches. When
a creature far more dangerous than the ones responsible for killing her parents
claims he is her guardian, she is torn between her desires for the dark predator
and the painful loss she has endured at the hands of her enemies.

One of the
last death demons still in existence, Jagger has pledged his life to the
Goddess Hecate. Charged with the guardianship over the Divinities, he is never
to approach them, but to aid them from a distance. When the firestorm, Khloe,
sacrifices herself to save her twin and best friend and becomes the prey, he
has no choice but to reveal himself to her. He is taken by surprise when the
need to claim her as his own emerges. A desire he has never felt before could
be more dangerous than the demons out to destroy them.

There comes a time when setting your differences aside isn’t just necessary, it’s a means of survival. After losing over half of their dens to a group rogue shifters, the wolves and leopards merged as one Pack, but living together is much more of a challenge then they expected.

Warning: Contains a shifter who’s scars run deeper than skin, a human who has the heart of a shifter, and a snow storm that’s sure to have them both reaching for warmth.

Read

Authors & publishers

Authors, publishers & publicists, if you would like me to review your book please visit my Review policy for details. I mainly read paranormal romance & urban fantasy (including YA) but will consider related genres too. I would also be interested to hear from you if you would like me to host a contest, guest post or author interview.